Tom Hoax: Tom Hanks warns fans about fake ad featuring AI image of his likeness
Tom Hanks is warning fans about a fake advertisement using an artificial intelligence-generated version of his likeness without his permission.
He shared an image of the ad, which he says falsely depicts him, with what appears to be an aged-down version of Hanks made using AI, to Instagram over the weekend.
"BEWARE!! There's a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me," Hanks wrote over a photo from the deepfake ad. "I have nothing to do with it."
He did not reveal the name of the company behind the AI-generated dental ad or where it was shared. A representative for Hanks told ABC News they had no additional comment on the matter.
As reported, Hanks previously opened up about AI and deepfake technology during an interview on The Adam Buxton Podcast.
Foreshadowing the Hollywood strikes — which have partly been about AI — Hanks noted there were "discussions going on in all of the guilds, all of the agencies and all of the legal firms in order to come up with the legal ramifications of my face and my voice -- and everybody else's -- being our intellectual property."
Actors under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) are still on strike.
Hanks joked that he could pitch movies starring him at the age of 32 "from now until kingdom come" and the performances could go on even if he was "hit by a bus tomorrow."
"Outside of the understanding that it's being done by AI or deepfake, there'll be nothing to tell you that it's not me and me alone," he said, noting the discussion is both an artistic and legal challenge.
"Without a doubt people will be able to tell [it's not actually me]," he said. "But the question is will they care?"
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Boy band documentary featuring NKOTB, Backstreet Boys and more coming to Paramount+
A documentary about the boy bands of the late '90s and early 2000s is coming to Paramount+. It'll focus on New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, 98 Degrees and other boy bands of those eras.
The film is produced by Johnny Wright — former manager of the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and New Kids on the Block — and Van Toffler, who worked for MTV for 28 years, many of which were during the height of boy band mania. Tamra Davis, who directed Billy Madison, will direct.
The doc will feature interviews from all the key players of the time; it will also include music and archival footage from the bands.
“The ’90s boy band era was an extraordinary chapter in music where harmonies and beats came together, along with talented vocal artists who captivated the hearts of millions worldwide,” says Wright in a statement.
Toffler adds, "This music has dominated the charts for decades, but there’s always been a stigma attached. The reality is, these are insanely talented guys who led the requests each week when I was running TRL in the ’90s and early 2000s."
"And, just when we all think the fervor for boy bands has dissipated, One Direction or BTS emerge, and their disciples like Harry Styles and Justin Timberlake overtake pop culture," Toffler concludes.
No word on when the doc will stream on Paramount+, but given the frenzy surrounding the recent *NSYNC reunion, it seems there's still plenty of interest in boy bands.
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Ed Sheeran releases 'Autumn Variations (Fan Living Room Sessions)'
As promised, Ed Sheeran has dropped a live version of his new album called Autumn Variations (Fan Living Room Sessions). The release features live performances of each track, which Ed recorded at fans' houses while on tour in North America.
The title of each track shouts out the name of the fan in whose home Ed recorded the album, including Maynard, Alex, Kia, Deborah, Danielle and more.
Ed will donate a portion of proceeds from sales of both versions of Autumn Variations bought at his webstore to Save the Music, which helps fund music programs for schools and students. In the days leading up to the album's release, Ed visited five different schools in LA and New York City, and donated guitars to each one.
Videos of all the live performances will hit Ed's official YouTube channel at 1 p.m. ET, but you can watch a trailer now.
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New photo from reboot shows that Frasier is on the move
A new photo promoting the October 12 return of the Emmy-winning sitcom Frasier gives a clever summation of the reboot's plot: Frasier Crane is on the move.
Kelsey Grammer is pictured standing, coffee cup raised in one hand and saucer in another, on the back of a moving truck, amidst a collection of boxes marked "fragile" and his leather office chair.
The psychologist, who came to be a TV favorite as a character on Cheers, has his foot on a steamer trunk. He seems to be oblivious to the coffee spilling from his cup as the truck speeds from Seattle, and Beantown's skyline is showcased behind him.
"Filmed in front of a live studio audience at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, the new series follows Frasier Crane...in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to finally fulfill," Paramount+ teases. "Frasier has re-entered the building!"
Frasier's first two episodes will debut on October 12 on the streaming service, and subsequent episodes will incidentally roll out on Thursdays, just as Cheers and the original Frasier did on NBC back in the day.
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Sia reveals she got a face lift, gives her plastic surgeon an award
Sia usually appears onstage with a huge wig covering her face, but she apparently cares a lot about what she looks like when she takes it off.
E! Online reports that the "Unstoppable" singer was on hand at the Daytime Beauty Awards in LA on October 1 to present Dr. Ben Talei with the Outstanding Achievement in Medicine Award. There, she revealed she's had work done by him.
"I'm a pop star that normally hides my face and doesn't lie about s***," Sia said, according to E!. "I got an amazing face lift from Dr. Talei. He is incredible. And he is doing so much good work—and not just for the pop stars of the world."
"I was showing someone in the back my before-and-afters right before I came on," she added. "People go, 'You look nice.' I'm like, 'Dr. Ben Talei, face lift,' for, like, anything you could ever want. I love him, I can't say enough good about him."
While accepting the award, Dr. Talei said Sia is "a bright ray of sunshine," adding, "She made my nieces and nephews' days. She invited them over to her house for a big party, and the whole family loves her. I'm super grateful."
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All we want for Christmas is a Mariah Carey holiday tour — and it starts next month
It's almost time, or as she puts it, "The actual defrosting has begun!" Mariah Carey is back to celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas tour starting November 15 in Highland, California.
Mariah's Merry Christmas One And All Tour will run for 13 dates, wrapping up on December 17 at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
An American Express presale starts Wednesday, October 4, at 10 a.m. local time, with the general onsale date starting October 6 at 10 a.m. via LiveNation.com. VIP packages are available via vipnation.com.
No word yet on what other holiday surprises Mimi is cooking up this Christmas season. She recently released a 30th anniversary edition of her 1993 album, Music Box.
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Selena Gomez joins Coldplay onstage to sing "Let Somebody Go"
It's been a while since Selena Gomez performed music live onstage, but she did on Sunday, October 1, popping up at a Coldplay concert at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.
Selena surprised the crowd by joining Coldplay's Chris Martin to sing "Let Somebody Go," the song they recorded together for the British band's 2021 album, Music of the Spheres. Grammy winner H.E.R., who was opening for Coldplay, was also part of the performance.
Selena wrote on her Instagram Story, "Thank you @coldplay @hermusicofficial for an amazing night,” and shared some clips from the performance.
Selena's current release is "Single Soon." She's said of her upcoming album, "There's not one sad song on [it] ... I genuinely don't feel like I have anything in me to write something negative. It just doesn't match with where I am anymore."
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